Charleston S.C. Jun. 29, 186- (1863). Bold strike of circular datestamp and "STEAM-SHIP" in oval handstamp with pencil "12" rate (10c plus 2c ship fee) on folded letter datelined "Bremen 3d June 1863" transmitting duplicate of Feb. 14 letter and tobacco sales report, from H. H. Meier & Co. to James Thomas Jr., prominent Richmond tobacco merchant, thin paper with slight ink erosion and small splits

VERY FINE. AN ATTRACTIVE BLOCKADE-RUN COVER ORIGINATING IN GERMANY AND SENT TO RICHMOND VIA NASSAU AND CHARLESTON.

Carried on Cunarder Scotia, dep. Liverpool Jun. 6, 1863, arr. New York Jun. 16; then Cunarder Corsica, dep. New York Jun. 20, arr. Nassau Jun. 24; then blockade-runner Fannie, dep. Nassau Jun. 24, arr. Charleston Jun. 28. The Fannie was owned by the Importing & Exporting Company of South Carolina (William C. Bee); active May 1863 to April 1865, 20 for 20 in successful trips; survived the war.

Ex Walske.

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Mobile Ala. to London via Havana, Cuba and St. Thomas. Blue folded cover addressed to Rothschild & Son in London, docketed "1862 J.L. Grunn? 29 Oct" with additional pencil "Mobile" (which is probably non-contemporary), carried from Mobile by blockade runner, possibly the Cuba, which departed Mobile Sep. 29, 1862, likely mailed as an inner cover as no C.S.A. postmarks are present, from Havana it was likely carried to St. Thomas where it entered the British mails as an unpaid letter, the RMSP Atrato departed St. Thomas Sep. 29 and arrived Southampton Oct. 13, matching the "Southampton Packet Letter OC 13 1862" rimless circular datestamp, "London B6 OC 13 62" arrival datestamp and "6d" due handstamp, minor bleaching along file fold, still fresh and Very Fine, extremely rare, very little blockade-run mail went through the port of Mobile Alabama and all of it was carried to or from Havana, the Special Routes book records only five such Mobile outbound blockade-run covers (this one not listed)

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10c Blue, Die A (11). Horizontal strip of four, small faults along edges, tied by faint circular datestamp which appears to be Dalton Ga. and also by "Meridian Miss." dateless circle terminus handstamp on east-to-west Trans-Mississippi express cover to Mrs. E.P. Holt, Matagorda Tex., soldier's endorsement "From J.F. Holt, Mills Regt, Cleburne's Div, Bragg's Army", and "Via Meridian Miss.", minor soiling

VERY FINE APPEARING EAST-TO-WEST TRANS-MISSISSIPPI COVER WITH THE SCARCE DATELESS MERIDIAN TERMINUS HANDSTAMP.

This cover comes from the same correspondence as the iconic captured Union Patriotic from the Morris Everett collection (Sale 754, lot 450), mailed by Lt. Holt after the battle of Chickamauga, and is from the same sender as another Trans-Mississippi captured Union Patriotic (ex Middendorf and Dr. Brandon, Sale 1225, lot 303). This must originate from early 1864 as Gen. Bragg's Army of the Tennessee was in the Dalton area at that time.

"Mills Regiment" refers to the 10th Texas Infantry which was commanded by Col. Roger Q. Mills. The sender of this cover, Lt. John F. Holt, was a member of Company D of the 6th Texas Infantry. The 6th Texas Infantry, known as the "Matagorda Coast Guards," was mustered into service in 1861 and served throughout the entire war. In January 1863 the 6th Texas fought in the battle of Arkansas Post (or Fort Hindman), where a large number of its members were captured, including Lt. Holt (he was exchanged six months later). The 6th Texas was reorganized in July 1863 and transferred to the Army of Tennessee (consolidated into the 10th).

Unlisted in Krieger census as this cover emerged in recent years.

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20c Green (13). Horizontal pair, small margins to cutting in, just tied by partial "Mobile Ala. ? 5" double-circle datestamp on westbound Trans-Mississippi Express buff cover to "Col. Ben Austin/Gen. Kirby Smith's staff/Shreveport La./Trans Miss Department", reduced at left and without backflap

VERY FINE APPEARANCE. AN EXTREMELY RARE EAST-TO-WEST TRANS-MISSISSIPPI EXPRESS COVER, BEARING A PAIR OF THE 20-CENT GENERAL ISSUE, AND ADDRESSED TO THE TRANS-MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT.

No more than 20 covers with a pair of the 20c Green paying the 40c Trans-Mississippi Express rate are known. A majority of the known covers are heavily stained and damaged. This cover is one of several known from the Col. Ben Austin correspondence, each paying the 40c Trans-Mississippi rate

Ex Felton. Scott value $4,500.00

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10c Blue, Die A (11). Large to huge margins, tied by "Richmond Va. Aug. 23, 1863" circular datestamp on small cover from Issa Breckenridge in Bluegrass Kentucky to her husband Col. William C.P. Breckinridge in Chattanooga Tenn. and forwarded to Bragg Hospital in Newnan Ga., forwarding postage paid by additional 10c Blue, Die B (12), margins to in and tied by "Chattanooga Ten. Nov. 19" circular datestamp, manuscript "Ex" examiner's marking and signed with initials, some slight soiling, appears Very Fine, a scarce examined cover from Kentucky to the Confederacy, accompanied by an excerpt from a book with some information on Col. and Mrs. Breckenridge; he served in the 9th Kentucky Cavalry and with Morgan's Raiders, received several wounds and had two horses shot out from under him; Issa relocated to Canada where she would not be exposed to any "Yankees", ex Powell

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Camp Butler, Springfield Ill. 3c Rose (65), perf faults, tied by bold "Springfield Ill. Feb. 26, 1863" circular datestamp on small prisoner-of-war cover with embossed flaps to Washington, Texas, "Exd. G.S." examiner's marking and soldier endorsement at top from T. A. Elliott of Company D, 24th Texas Cavalry, addressed to his wife, pencil "via Washington City", entered C.S.A. mails with "Richmond Va. Mar. 9, 1863" circular datestamp and "DUE 10" handstamp, receipt docketing of April 9, missing backflap and some edge wear, Fine and extremely rare use from Camp Butler prison, this is the illustration example in the Harrison book (p. 133) which states "1 cover known", we know of at least one other cover with a different examiner's marking (Sale 869, lot 3387)

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Fort Warren, Boston Harbor. Small inner flag-of-truce cover addressed to Miss Mollie Brooks in Mobile Ala., endorsed at top "Lieut. Hollonquist 1st Ala. Artillery," along with "Prisoner of War" and "Flag of Truce Letter", an enclosure, which no longer accompanies, was datelined at Fort Warren, Boston Mass. and had censor's initials, unclear where the cover was exchanged and how it reached Mobile but it entered as a drop letter with "2" due handstamp, overall speckled bleaching spots, otherwise Very Fine and extremely rare north-to-south prisoner-of-war cover from Fort Warren and also a very rare example of the Mobile "2" drop rate handstamp (only a few known), six companies of the 1st Alabama Artillery surrendered at either Fort Gaines on August 7, 1864 or Fort Morgan on August 22

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Johnson's Island, Sandusky O. South-to-North prisoner-of-war cover addressed to Lt. Col. Davis at Johnson's Island, Confederate postage paid by an Extremely Fine Gem 10c Blue, Die A (11) tied by grid, exchanged via Fortress Monroe with U.S. postage paid by 3c Rose (65) tied by segmented cork and by "Old Point Comfort Va. Jan. 16" double-circle datestamp, endorsed Flag of Truce" at top and backstamped "Prisoner's Letter, Johnsons Island O. Examined JC" oval handstamp, docketing at left indicates letter written Oct. 15, 1864 -- three months prior to being exchanged for carriage North -- 3c stamp with fault bottom left corner, some minor cover waterstaining and small tear, still Very Fine mixed franking prisoner-of-war cover

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Johnson's Island, Sandusky O. Buff cover from Johnson's Island to Mobile Ala., with 3c Rose (65) tied by target, "Sandusky O. Mar. 29 '64" double-circle datestamp, manuscript censor's marking, endorsed "Pr flag of truce via Fortress Monroe", partial strike of Richmond circular datestamp, bold "Due 10" and "10" handstamps, with original enclosure, Very Fine, sent by Lt. Elbert A. Holt of Ala. 38th Infantry

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Fort Hembree N.C. March 6. Manuscript postmark with 10c Blue, Die B (12) cancelled by penstrokes, sent to a prisoner of war at Johnson's Island, manuscript "$220 US Currency" at top and endorsed "By Flaf of Truce via Richmond Va. Care of Col. Auld", with 3c Rose (65), straight edge at left and uncancelled, Very Fine and very unusual use to a prisoner of war, ex Hart, signed Ashbrook

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Point Lookout. Orange cover with octagonal examiner's marking to Appomattox Va., with 3c Rose (65) cancelled by target, "Point Lookout Md. Aug. ?, 1864" double-circle datestamp, stamp tied by "Richmond Va. Sep. 4" circular datestamp, neat "10" due marking, fresh and Fine, ex Dr. Agre, with 1991 Green certificate

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5c-10c Lithograph Issues, Cover Balance (1-2, 4-5). Extensive balance including sixteen of No. 1, one on American Tract Society overall illustrated cover, a number of pairs or two stamps including on embossed lady's small cover, another on mourning cover from the same correspondence as the Fredericksburg Provisional covers, five of No. 2 including a Stone Y and a Hoyer & Ludwig printing as well as another lady's embossed cover, four of No. 4 and two of No. 5, mixed condition with faults to be found or more of these would have made individual lots, overall a Fine appearing and worthwhile group, see our website PDF for a complete scan, Scott value in excess of $11,000.00

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5c Typograph Issues, Cover Balance (6-7). 20 covers, mostly No. 7 but a couple No. 6 as well, pairs and also three with singles, nice range of uses including "White Tie" variety, overall lithographed wholesale druggist cover, bold Proctor's Creek circular datestamp, Lake City Fla. circular datestamp, turned use with U.S. 3c Star Die on Buff inside, pink patterned lady's cover, single on overpaid drop cover (stamp has fallen off but accompanies), bold red Alexandria La. circular datestamp, others, some typical flaws to be found but overall a Fine and worthwhile group, see our website PDF for a complete scan

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10c Engraved Issues, Cover Balance (9, 11-12). 27 covers, including one No. 9, the rest Nos. 11 or 12, many of these are better uses than the ordinary including one prisoner-of-war dual franking with U.S. No. 65 from Danville Prison Va., however the 10c stamp is a replacement (or this would have been an individual lot), others include a Quartermaster Dept. imprint, Tobacco Agency corner card, adversity uses on forms, blue postmarks, mourning covers, Army of Northern Virginia grid, many others with retail prices to $500.00, mixed condition but lots of attractive and useful covers included, see our website PDF for a complete scan

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Confederate States Cover Balance. Two categories of covers, two are Independent or Confederate State uses of U.S. postage, one with faulty No. 65, other six are handstamped "Paid" uses, including a nice Kentucky use with Feb. 1862 soldier endorsement just prior to evacuation, couple other soldier endorsed, Tudor Hall Va., Petersburg Va. with grocer corner card, Greenville Tex., some faults but overall Fine group, see our website PDF for a complete scan

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Confederate States Cover Balance. More than 40 covers, both stamped and stampless, several handstamped "Paid" including three from Confederate Kentucky to Arkansas or Texas, other better include prisoner-of-war from Rock Island Barracks Ill. to Kentucky, General Issues including Nos. 1, 2 and 5, No. 12 with Army of Tennessee field cancel, Virginia & Tennessee Railroad cover with four 10c engraved stamps in three different shades, another railroad cover and others, mixed condition, overall Fine balance with a number of better uses, see our website PDF for a complete scan

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Confederate States Cover Balance. Nine, including three adversity, one with four of No. 12 to Texas, three with nice pairs of No. 6, few faults, overall Fine

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Civil War Signatures. Small group, Confederate related items include two cuts signed "John H. Reagan Texas", Confederate Postmaster General, also Confederate Post Office Dept. appointment signed by Chief of Appointment Bureau B.N. Clements, Union related includes two cards signed "JM Schofield Maj Genl. U.S.A.", Schofield was later Secretary of War and Commanding General of the U.S. Army, also Navy Dept. Bureau of Ordnance 1863 letter signed by Henry August Wise, Very Fine and interesting group

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